“What Instrument Do You Play?”

Text:  Luke 3:7-18(Lk3-709)                  Third Sunday in Advent             December 13, 2009

In recent years we have picked out our Christmas tree, then when we go to pick it up Dan follows along and with one pull you hear the zing of the chain saw and in no time the tree is ready to be hauled up to the vehicle.  A Presbyterian pastor began his sermon, “Repent while you still have time.  God’s chain saw is already fired up and close to the tree, ready to clean out dead wood.  You children of snakes, you viper’s brood.  Turn around while there is still time.”

John the Baptist announces judgment with images of an ax and fire.  John lived an interesting life out in the wilderness; someone described him as scruffy.  I thought about not shaving for a few days so I could be scruffy.  This scruffy character had a role to fulfill denouncing sin and commanding repentance.  Leonard Bernstein said that the hardest instrument to play is ‘Second fiddle.’ This was the instrument that John played, to prepare for the coming of Christ.  Listen to how the fiddler begins, “You brood of vipers.”  I asked the other pastors on Tuesday if they ever began this sermon by calling the people a brood of vipers, and one said, “Not to their faces.”

Everyone is a viper; all of us have a need to repent.  Our words as Christians don’t always match our actions.  It was the thought at that time that a person only had to pay dues and go through the right motions.  The subtle fiddler said that doesn’t cut it, and don’t even try feeding me with the idea that you are a descendent of Abraham.  He uses the images of taking an ax to a tree or separating the wheat from the chaff.  This is John’s subtle way of saying that God has expectations of us.  The ax, God will confront evil: the fire, evil will be destroyed.

Something I read this week said it was okay to use trumpets in Advent even though it is not Easter.  It would be a great way to announce the coming of Christ.  Our 2nd lesson begins, “Rejoice in the Lord always.”  So what instrument do you play?  Here we have the whole orchestra, being led this morning by the 2nd fiddler.  And no doubt we will join the crowds in our story by asking, “What are we supposed to do in this orchestra?  “Well I can’t play an instrument’” most of us will say, we will have an excuse.  Like the person who gets pulled over for speeding, their excuse, they had to go to the bathroom really bad.  How do you handle that the officer was asked, “I just write all the faster.”  This crowd understood, notice they had no excuses, “What then should we do?”  Even the tax collectors and soldiers.

Notice John’s answer, he does not say to dip in the river seven times or light some candles, or put on a bumper sticker, or go to church more often, attend a Bible study, although I wish he would had.  Instead, they are to look at the needs of others, share with those in need, be fair to those you do business with, and not to misuse their power.   You could say, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Change the direction you are headed; you already have all you need.  Maybe this is why the message of this scruffy sounding 2nd fiddle is good news.  We live in an ordinary place, living pretty ordinary lives, not worshipping in some lavish space.  To you the messiah is coming, calling you to follow as you are and be what you can be.  This is good news.

This will be different for each of you, depending on our own stories, limitations, needs and desires.  We need someone like John to get our attention, (Repent, you viper) and maybe you can be that John for someone else.  We each play an instrument.  Having Michael Gilbertson in our midst is such a great joy.  It amazes me when composing for an orchestra how you get all those notes to come together to sound so good.  What happens if all of us playing 2nd fiddle play the right notes at the right time and in the right place?  Would that be good news or what?  Don’t play by the world’s rules, but God’s.  When this happens we can let our expectations soar because of this one called Christ who is coming and is already here.  May our nation find ways to mend after violence, our city find a way to heal after its tragedies, and families build bridges instead of barricades!  What instrument will you play in preparing the way of the Lord?  Amen

Related posts:

1. “Is He Really Necessary?”